Underclassmen News & NFL Draft Notes: January 5th

8Jan

MLB or NFL? Gerhart's deciding

Tonight we have more updates from past stories, more news on the underclassmen entering the draft and information on those planning to return to their universities for one final season. Also- why have underclassmen been slow to announce decisions on whether or not they will opt for the draft? The answers to all this plus a lot more information to keep you ahead of the curve!

– To update a story from December 15th, sources have told us this evening that Virginia Tech defensive end Jason Worilds is “99% sure” he will enter the draft and could make the announcement by the end of the week.

– That same day we mentioned former Penn State receiver Chris Bell, who played at Norfolk State last season, was going through the process of deciding where he will play next season. We can confirm that Bell will send his paperwork to the league office and officially enter April’s draft. Scouts have called Bell a poor man’s Kenny Britt.

-Though he’s yet to publicly announce his decision, sources told us this evening that Toby Gerhart will enter the NFL Draft and will not apply to the NCAA for a fifth year of eligibility. As we reported on December 11th, Gerhart wanted to compare his future in the MLB versus his future in the NFL. He is expected to start training for the combine by Friday of this week.

– Tomorrow’s GMAC Mobile Bowl in Alabama will be the final college contest for several Central Michigan stars, including receiver Antonio Brown. On the same day as out report on Gerhart we alerted readers that Brown was 50/50 as to whether or not he would enter the draft. Tonight we can tell you Brown is telling those around him he will skip his final year at CMU and opt for the draft. A public announcement could come by Friday.

– On Sunday we reported that Clemson safety DeAndre McDaniel was close to entering the draft. McDaniel has since refuted our report, stating at a press conference he would return for his senior season. Yet later in the day McDaniel admitted to our sources at Clemson that if he gets a high grade from the advisory committee he could change his mind and eventually enter the draft.

-Marshall running back Darius Marshall has told people he will enter the draft if he receives a good grade from the advisory committee.

– It will be a little bit of everything for Iowa after tonight. Multiple sources told us today tackle Bryan Bulaga will enter the draft while defensive lineman Adrian Clayborn will not. Cornerback Amari Spievey is still on the fence.

– Underclassmen were expected to enter the 2010 draft in record numbers; so why have the floodgates not yet opened? Simply answered- many of the underclassmen are still awaiting their grades from the NFL Advisory Committee.

TFY Draft was on top of this story as far back as November 9th and our update one month later has seemingly come to fruition as the combination of large numbers of grade requests from underclassmen plus a lack of film has really put the advisory committee behind the eight-ball. A perfect example of this is South Carolina tight end Weslye Saunders. We’ve stated several times Saunders is heavily leaning towards entering the draft. Earlier today we were told family pressures to stay in school and graduate may keep Saunders at South Carolina. These same sources told us the final determination as to whether Saunders plays in the SEC or NFL next year will be based on his evaluation from the advisory committee, which the big tight end is itching to receive.

– Several underclassmen won’t be entering the draft starting with a pair of juniors from Mississippi. Sources have told us quarterback Jevan Snead and defensive tackle Jerrell Powe are both expected to return for their senior campaigns.

– The same holds true for Colorado defensive back Jimmy Smith, who has told people in Boulder he will return for his senior season.

– Division II standout Jared Veldheer, one of the few small school lineman to receive a combine invitation has been training in Tennessee under the tutelage of thirteen year veteran and former All Pro Brad Hopkins. According to Hopkins the small school tackle is one of the best athletes he’s ever seen. We reported on November 12th that some around the league were calling Veldheer “this year’s Sebastian Vollmer.” We hear Veldheer is making huge strides in the weight room as Hillsdale never had a strength and conditioning coach or S&C program for the football team.

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